Tom C. Korologos: The Senate Goes Nuclear, Fallout to Come

The Constitution is chock-full of provisions to protect minority rights. Harry Reid thinks he knows better.

By

Tom C. Korologos

Nov. 22, 2013 7:02 p.m. ET

Classical Greeks called it "ochlocracy." Alexis de Tocqueville referred to the "tyranny of the majority." James Madison warned of "the Superior force of an interested and overbearing majority." Someone else said, "It's like two foxes and a hen voting on what to have for dinner."

Now "nuclear option" has found its way into popular discourse about majority rule—thanks to Senate Democrats who on Thursday broke the filibuster rule and ended the traditional supermajority of 60...